Downtown Flushing, Murray Hill, Queensboro Hill

New York, NY – City Council Member Peter Koo today announced legislation to ban smoking while walking on city sidewalks.

The bill will prohibit smoking while walking on all sidewalks under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation and the Department of Parks and Recreation, including sidewalks adjoining parks, squares and public places, pedestrian pathways through any park strip, median or mall adjacent to traffic, and parking lots. READ MORE

New York, NY – For his first meeting as the new Chair NYC Council Technology Committee, Council Member Peter Koo will host an oversight hearing on the federal overhaul of the Lifeline program and its effect on low income New Yorkers.

Lifeline is a federal program administered by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that works to make communications services more affordable for low-income consumers. READ MORE

Council Member Peter Koo stated, the following regarding the start of the Year of the Rooster.

“The Lunar New Year is such an important holiday throughout our community when millions of people travel across the world by road, plane and train to reunite with their loved ones. This is a time for our families to come together, spend meaningful time with one another, and reflect on their good fortunes. READ MORE

Flushing, NY – City Council Member Peter Koo today appealed to his colleagues to sign onto his bill Intro 497, which would suspend alternate side parking in New York City on the eve of Lunar New Year. Koo introduced the bill today, two years after Lunar New Year became a school holiday, in order to provide for an easier commute on the eve of the holiday for the thousands of Asian Americans living and visiting in New York City. READ MORE

Fresh Meadows, NY – Council Member Peter Koo today joined students and faculty from PS 177Q (The Robin Sue Ward School For Exceptional Children) at a dedication ceremony for the school’s newly renovated auditorium. Over the past four years, CM Koo has secured for the school nearly $1 million in capital funding, tech upgrades and after-school programming. READ MORE

Flushing, NY – Immigrant tenants will have additional protections under the law thanks to legislation passed in the New York City Council today that will amend the definition of harassment to include discriminatory threats and requests for proof of citizenship.

Int. No. 1678B, sponsored by City Council Member Peter Koo, will amend the definition of harassment under the Housing Maintenance Code to include discriminatory threats and requests for proof of citizenship. READ MORE

Flushing, NY – Council Member Peter Koo today reached an agreement with the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs to extend the grace period for laundromats throughout the city who have struggled to reach compliance with the city’s new Local Law 87 requirements. The 6-month grace period came after CM Koo spoke to DCA Commissioner Lorelei Salas this morning prior to a city resource fair in Flushing where dozens of laundry owners attended to speak with DCA and DOB representatives. READ MORE

Council Member Peter Koo stated the following regarding an anonymous political mailer circulating in Edison, New Jersey that calls for the deportation of Asian candidates.

“This is true cowardice. Sadly, the bigoted toxicity of anonymous internet message boards has made its way to these political mailers in Edison, New Jersey. I strongly encourage the voters of Edison turn out in force on November 7th to beat back this intolerance by exercising their rights to vote.”